I’m about halfway through The Stand and really enjoying it. I’ve never read one of his books before so I’d like to go with it and have another ready to start once I’ve finished this. Which book would you recommend? I quite fancy something a bit scarier.
Oh you are so lucky! He is one of my favourite authors and you have got 40 odd books to explore (including some stinkers but never mind ) I would move onto The Shining or Pet Semetary- some of his scariest books - or maybe one of his early short story collections such as Skeleton Crew. A surprising number of his books aren't put and out horror though - just really good reads - enjoy!
Oh lucky you! I’d love to have the whole Stephen King canon still ahead of me. And The Stand is one of my favourite books - I recommend it to dubious friends all the time and no one has ever not enjoyed it.
The Shining and Salem’s Lot are both true horror. I think The Shining is the better book in many ways but Salem’s Lot I read as a teenager and have a soft spot for. I’m also a big fan of Carrie and Firestarter from his earlier career. And his short stories are pretty terrifying - almost more so than his novels, I think.
If you get to the end of The Stand and still love it, then I’d try some of his other big reads - IT is the obvious one but I don’t think of it as horror. There are lots of scary bits but it’s about childhood and growing up more than scares. 11.22.63 for me is the book most like The Stand in terms of its scope and ambition, though not horror.
But really, with a couple of exceptions (for me, Rose Madder which I hated and found dull in equal measure after the very good first half and Revival which was just a bit meh) you can’t really go wrong. He’s written so much and though his endings are sometimes a bit wonky - almost as if he just gives up - I love reading him, because although there are so many different ways he tells stories, I really do think he writes better than almost anyone about those human emotions that don’t always get airtime in literature, and in particular about children.
That was a bit of an essay, sorry. But I do think there is a lot of snobbishness towards King but only from people who have never read him, so I'm always keen to spread the word.
The dead zone or needful things are good. Christine is quite creepy or Misery. The newish one that's sort of a sequel to the shining was good too but I can't remember the name! Also 11.22.63 and under the dome, the books were better than the tv series.
I would definitely recommend The Shining ! I thought it was one of the scarier books he has written and I also enjoyed Dr Sleep which is the follow up to it. I would also recommend his short story collections - Full Dark, No Stars being my favourite. The Girl who loved Tom Gordon was the first Stephen King I ever read ( my dad bought it for me when I was a teen!) and it frightened the life out of me!
Dolores clarbone and Geralds game are really good to read as they sort of jump in to each other's book at one point, trying to explain it as best I can, also bag of bones is good.
The Stand is such a good book! I've had a thirty year hiatus, but I'm going to read The Bachman Books next (when I finish the book I'm on). Looking forward to Running Man, to see just how much went over my head the first time I read it.
@PhilODox I recently re read the Bachman books , I remember now how much I loved The Long Walk and The Running Man- definitely understand them a bit better now!!
The book of the Shining is MUCH better than the film.
I would also seriously read Duma Key - it's scary, and the portrayal of someone dealing with the aftermath of traumatic brain injury is beautifully done.
Oh I love stephen king. This year I re-read it and the shining before reading Doctor Sleep. Loved them all. And the Long Walk which is the first in the Bachman Books is an absolute classic.
11.22.63 is my favourite Stephen King book (my MN user names are all usually based on that book ). I think it's most like The Stand in terms of length and scope - it's a wonderful story. I've read and listened to it countless times and never get bored of it.
I love most of his books, but I'd also recommend On Writing for a fascinating insight into how he became a writer and his tips on writing.
I would recommend The Shining next. It's a masterpiece compared to many of his other books, which usually begin brilliantly but completely unravel into chaotic nonsense by the end.
Many of King's short stories and novellas are excellent; my favourite is The Long Walk.
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